Patent application title: Ocular-protection projector device

Abstract:

The present invention discloses an ocular-protection projector device,
wherein the projector is additionally equipped with an image-capture
unit. When the projector projects information onto a screen, the
image-capture unit captures the human-shape image of a user. An
image-processing unit, which is arranged inside the projector or an
external electronic device, receives the human-shape image, creates a
human-shape black mask, and outputs the human-shape black mask via the
projector onto an area of the screen corresponding to the user's
position. Thereby, the present invention can effectively protect the
user's eyes from the harm of intense light.

Claims:

1. An ocular-protection projector device comprising:a projector projecting
information onto a screen;at least one image-capture unit arranged in
said projector and capturing at least one user's image; andan
image-processing unit receiving said user's image, creating a black mask
and outputting said black mask via said projector onto an area of said
screen corresponding to a user's position.

2. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 1, wherein
said image-processing unit is arranged inside said projector; said
projector further comprises a central processing unit, and said
image-processing unit is built in said central processing unit.

3. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 1, wherein
said image-processing unit is arranged in an external electronic device
and used to create said black mask.

4. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 3, wherein
said external electronic device is a personal computer, a notebook
computer, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

7. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 6, wherein
said detecting human faces is first finding out a reference point and
then using a displacement vector to detect the existence of a user.

8. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 1, wherein
said projector is a front projector or a ceiling front projector.

9. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 1 further
comprising a complementary light source providing illumination for said
image-capture unit.

10. The ocular-protection projector device according to claim 9, wherein
said complementary light source is an infrared light source.

[0004]Nowadays, multimedia briefing implemented with a projector has been
very popular in the achievement report, seminars, thesis presentation,
etc., in the academic field, and the project proposal, business
achievement report, etc., in the business and industry fields.

[0005]A speaker will prepare digital pictures beforehand, and the digital
pictures will be sequentially projected onto a screen with a projector
during his speech. Generally, the speaker will stand before the audience
and face the projector. In such a case, the intense light from the
projector will dazzle the speaker or even momentarily darken his eyes.
Long-time direct exposure to the intense light of the projector may cause
an eternal harm on the eyes. Therefore, a preventive solution for such a
problem is desired.

[0006]Accordingly, the present invention proposes an ocular-protection
projector device to prevent a speaker from being dazzled by the intense
light of a projector in a briefing session.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an
ocular-protection projector device, wherein a black mask is output to a
corresponding position on the screen to prevent dazzling light from
directly entering human eyes.

[0008]Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
ocular-protection projector device, which can provide a comfort
environment for a briefing session.

[0009]To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present invention
proposes an ocular-protection projector device, which comprises: a
projector projecting information onto a screen, an image-capture unit
capturing images of at least one user; and an image-processing unit
receiving images from the image-capture unit, processing the images to
create a black mask, and outputting the black mask to the screen
according to the current position of the user.

[0010]Below, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail in cooperation with the attached drawings to make easily
understood the objectives, technical contents, characteristics and
accomplishments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the architecture of the
present invention; and

[0012]FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a human-shape black mask
according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013]The ocular-protection projector device proposed by the present
invention can create and output a black mask onto the screen according to
the position of the user to prevent intense light from dazzling the user.
Thus, the user's eyes are protected.

[0014]There are various types of projectors, such as front projectors and
ceiling front projectors. However, the present invention applies to all
types of projectors. Below, the front projector is used in the
exemplification of the present invention.

[0015]Refer to FIG. 1. The ocular-protection projector device of the
present invention comprises: a projector 10 and an image-capture unit 16.
The projector 10 has a projector lens 12 and circuits (not shown in the
drawings), including CPU. The projector 10 can project information onto a
screen 14. The image-capture unit 16 can be realized with a CCD
(Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor) sensor element. The image-capture unit 16 is arranged on
the surface of the projector 10 and detects human faces to determine the
position of a user 18. Then, the image-capture unit 16 captures the shape
of the user 18 and sends the shape to an image-processing unit (not shown
in the drawings) inside the CPU. Refer to FIG. 2. The image-processing
unit receives the shape and works out a human-shape black mask 20. Then,
via the projector 10, the image-processing unit outputs the human-shape
black mask 20 onto an area of the screen 14 corresponding to the position
of the user 18.

[0016]The human-face detection technology is first finding out a reference
point and then using a displacement vector to detect the existence of the
user. If the illumination is insufficient, a complementary light source,
such as an infrared light source, is used to benefit image capture. The
complementary light source may be arranged on the projector or elsewhere.

[0017]Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In the present invention, the
human-shape black mask 20 is output onto an area of the screen 14
corresponding to the position of the user 18. When the user 18 confronts
the dazzling light from the projector lens 12, the human-shape black mask
20 always appears in the dazzling light to protect the user's eyes from
the intense light and provide the user 18 with a comfortable briefing
environment.

[0018]The abovementioned black mask is exemplified with but not limited to
a human-shape black mask. Any arbitrary-shape black mask may also work if
it can protect the user's eyes. In addition to being built in the
projector, the abovementioned image-processing unit, which creates the
black mask, may also be arranged in an external electronic device. The
external electronic device may be a personal computer, a notebook
computer, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

[0019]The embodiments described above are to exemplify the characteristics
and technical contents to enable the persons skilled in the art to
understand, make, and use the present invention. However, it is not to
limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification or
variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also
included within the scope of the present invention.